Sri Vijaya Puram, June 28: Mr. Venkateswar Rao, Pradhan of Gram Panchayat Shivapuram, Rangat Block, has submitted a detailed representation to the Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor and the Chief Secretary, Andaman & Nicobar Administration, seeking an urgent revision of honorarium and extension of welfare benefits for all elected Panchayati Raj Institution (PRI) representatives across the Islands.
In the representation, Mr. Rao stated that PRI representatives are the backbone of grassroots democracy and discharge their responsibilities round the clock without fixed working hours. Their duties include conducting Gram Sabha and Ward Sabha meetings, preparing village development plans, supervising public works, resolving public grievances, coordinating with various Government departments, ensuring implementation of Central flagship schemes, and responding during emergencies and natural disasters.
Despite these extensive responsibilities, the existing monthly honorarium of PRI representatives, ranging from 3,519 rupees to 9,769 rupees, is inadequate considering the high cost of living in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands. He also pointed out that the honorarium of Municipal Councillors has recently been revised to over 20,000 rupees per month, while PRI representatives continue to receive significantly lower honorarium despite serving larger rural populations.
The representation urged the Administration to immediately revise the honorarium of all PRI representatives, introduce annual increments linked to inflation, provide medical insurance for representatives and their dependent family members, sanction TA/DA for official duties, introduce pension or social security benefits after completion of tenure, and ensure parity and dignity for elected rural representatives.
Copies of the representation have also been forwarded to the Member of Parliament, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, and the Secretary, Rural Development Department, requesting their support for an early and favourable decision.
Mr. Venkateswar Rao expressed confidence that the Administration would take a historic step towards strengthening grassroots governance by ensuring adequate financial security and welfare benefits for elected PRI representatives across the Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
